Noam Bettan, 27, a singer born in Israel to French immigrant parents, has been selected as Israel’s entrant for this year’s Eurovision Song Contest.

Bettan, who hails from Ra’anana, will represent his country at the competition in Vienna in May after winning this season of “Hakochav Haba” (Rising Star) during the grand finale Tuesday night.

When this season of Rising Star premiered in November, Israel’s inclusion in this year’s contest hung in the balance, as a growing chorus of artists and fans were calling for it to be barred from the competition over its war against Hamas in Gaza.

But last month, members of the European Broadcasting Union voted overwhelmingly not to kick Israel out of the competition, a move which prompted Ireland, Iceland, the Netherlands, Spain and Slovenia to boycott this year’s contest in protest.

Bettan is aware that he will not be welcomed to the contest with open arms by everyone, but he said he won’t let it faze him.

“It’s entering the lion’s den,” Bettan said during an interview Tuesday morning with the Kan Gimmel radio station. “But I can say that seeing those few Israeli flags in the audience — you look at that, and you know that you have a whole nation behind you, and you’re their voice. It’s truly a privilege.”

The song he will sing at the contest is expected to be unveiled in March after being selected by a committee convened by the Kan public........

© The Times of Israel